ZnO Nanorod-Based Solution-Gated Devices for Antibody-Free Rapid Detection of Bacteria

The rapid increase of antibiotic-resistant pathogenic bacteria has become a global health threat. The development of rapid and accurate diagnostics along with the production of drugs is essential to overcome this problem. Previously reported electrochemical, mechanical, and microfluidic sensors have attempted to meet these requirements. However, the fundamental trade-off between the selectivity and sensitivity of such sensors is still the main challenging and unresolved issue. Here, we introduce a label-free and antibody-free gated device with the capability of sensitive and selective detection of bacteria. Our device with a unique operating mechanism enables us to have a fingerprint for any type of bacteria. Each type of bacteria induces unique electrical characteristics on the device according to its shape and electrostatic properties, which makes it possible to selectively detect the bacteria. Utilizing the ZnO nanorods in the structure of the sensor and using our electrical procedure of detection provide a platform for single-cell detection.